LAUSR

DNA helicase unwinding activity can be inhibited by small molecules and by covalently bound DNA lesions. Little is known about the relationships between the structural features of DNA lesions and their impact on unwinding rates and processivities. Employing E.coli RecQ helicase as a model system, and various conformationally defined DNA lesions, the unwinding rate constants kobs = kU + kD, and processivities P = (kU/(kU + kD) were determined (kU, unwinding rate constant; kD, helicase-DNA dissociation rate constant). The highest kobs values were observed in the case of intercalated benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-derived adenine adducts, while kobs values of guanine adducts with minor groove or base-displaced intercalated adduct conformations were ~10–20 times smaller. Full unwinding was observed in each case with the processivity P = 1.0 (100% unwinding). The kobs values of the non-bulky lesions T(6−4)T, CPD cyclobutane thymine dimers, and a guanine oxidation product, spiroiminodihydantoin (Sp), are up to 20 times greater than some of the bulky adduct values; their unwinding efficiencies are strongly inhibited with processivities P = 0.11 (CPD), 0.062 (T(6−4)T), and 0.63 (Sp). These latter observations can be accounted for by correlated decreases in unwinding rate constants and enhancements in the helicase DNA complex dissociation rate constants.